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#AM_Equality News: September 6, 2016

THE LGBTQ VOTE IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH…writes Frank Bruni (@FrankBruni) for The New York Times. Across the country, voters are prioritizing candidates’ records on LGBTQ equality — as seen in races from Florida’s 7th Congressional District to the North Carolina’s gubernatorial campaign. On the power of the LGBTQ vote, JoDee Winterhof, HRC’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs, told Bruni it “really is a new day.” Read the full piece from The New York Times.

ICYMI–WHAT TRUMP WOULD MEAN FOR GLOBAL LGBTQ EQUALITY: Last week, HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) authored a piece for CNN on the enormous threat Donald Trump and Mike Pence pose to global LGBTQ equality. Over the last eight years, President Obama and Secretary Clinton helped make LGBTQ equality a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy — along with tremendous other administration officials from Ambassador Power to Ambassador Rice to Secretary Kerry. Come next January, all of that could change.

Members of Congress call for LGBTQ protections in Turkey: “The Turkish government has a duty to protect all of its citizens regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity,” HRC Global’s Ty Cobb (@TyWesleyCobb) tells Voice of America.

TX AG PAXTON JOCKEYING FOR 1ST PLACE IN ANTI-TRANS DISCRIMINATION RACE:Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has jumped into the legal battle over North Carolina’s discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ law, HB2. Paxton and 10 other state attorneys general have urged U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder to pause the proceedings of a pending U.S. Justice Department challenge to HB2 so that other cases can be heard and resolved first. More from HRC.

Shameful: A Texas business owner purchased full-page ad promoting his professional discrimination against LGBTQ Texans last week. More from KTRE.

TUESDAY TWEET:H/T to News & Observer reporter Colin Campbell (@RaleighReporter) for sharing equality advocate Montel Williams’ disgust at having his image used used in a re-election ad for anti-LGBTQ North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. According to Williams’ spokesman Jonathan Franks, the incident could result in “a very expensive headache for Lyin’ Pat.”

MIKE PENCE, THEN AND NOW — THE FACE OF ANTI-LGBTQ DISCRIMINATION:Right Wing Watch reminded us last week that Mike Pence has always been the face of anti-LGBTQ discrimination, highlighting a piece the GOP vice presidential nominee wrote lamenting the “AIDS activists” who spoke at the 1996 RNC. The same conservative journal, which was the official publication of the organization that Pence led, claimed that “gaydom” was a “pathological condition” that could slant journalists’ coverage. More here.

HRC VIDEO MUST WATCH — #ThisIsTransgender:In recent months, some anti-transgender politicians have been scratching their heads over what it means to be transgender. It’s pretty simple, says HRC in this new video showcasing actress Laverne Cox (@LaverneCox), teen author and HRC Youth Ambassador Jazz Jennings (@JazzJennings_), among other transgender advocates.

PULSE NIGHTCLUB HERO — A USMC VET — TO BE HONORED BY MILITARY ORG:The American Military Partner Association (@LGBTMilPartners) will honor Imran Yousuf at its West Coast Gala on Sept. 17. Yousuf, a Marine Corps veteran, saved more than 70 lives during the deadly Pulse Nightclub shooting in June. More from AMPA.

IN EMOTIONAL SPEECH, COLTON HAYNES ACCEPTS HRC AWARD:Teen Wolf and Arrow star Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) got emotional when he accepted an HRC Visibility Award during an event in Seattle. “I have experienced a lot of ‘Wow’ moments in my life, but I think tonight is probably topping all of them” said Haynes, honored for living an authentic life as an openly gay man. Watch his speech here.

#EQUALEVERYWHERE: HRC wants you to show your pride wherever you are. Speaking out against hate in the name of LGBTQ equality? Going on a global excursion? Running the Boston Marathon? Standing up as an ally for your loved one? Proclaiming your stance as a voter who believes #LoveTrumpsHate? Jumping out of a plane? Tag your post with #EqualEverywhere. We’ll be on the lookout, sharing the best posts across our platforms. More here.

Last week,the South African government announced they will provide free treatment to people living with HIV. More from Fox News.

READING RAINBOW

The Washington Post shares the story of Gavin Grimm, whose lawsuit to use the correct bathroom has sparked a national debate… BuzzFeed tells the story of a loving same-sex couple who almost lost custody of their children because of a rogue anti-LGBTQ judge… Grab a box of tissues and check out HRC’s new Dads for Trans Equality video series… and The Independent discusses the King of Norway’s powerful speech in favor of LGBTQ rights…

Have news? Send us your news and tips at AMEquality@hrc.org. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!